New TV Series Features Television's Largest Cast of Transgender Actors

Created by Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck, American Horror Story), Pose has been ordered to series by the FX network. Not only will it feature the largest cast of transgender actors ever in a scripted series, but it will feature over 50 LGBTQ+ characters overall in its first season.

Pose is executive produced by Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, and Brad Falchuk. The series will be set in the 1980’s and it "looks at the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, the downtown social and literary scene and the ball culture world.”

"I am thrilled to join forces with John Landgraf and FX Networks and FXP and Dana Walden, Gary Newman and Fox 21 Television Studios to present what I think is a game changer of a show, which at its heart is an uplifting series about the universal quest for identity, family and respect," Murphy said in a statement about the new series. "Along with being a dance musical and an affirming look at American life in the 1980’s, I'm so proud that Pose and FX has made history right from the beginning by featuring the most trans series regular actors ever in an American television production. Additionally, the first season Pose will feature 50-plus LGBTQ characters - a record in American television history. I can't wait for people to see this incredibly talented, passionate cast."

The series will also feature Evan Peters and Kate Mara as Stan and Patty, a couple from New Jersey, while James Van Der Beek plays a financial kingpin named Matt, who is Stan’s boss. After a nationwide search, the series cast transgender actors MJ Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross. The show will also feature Tony Award winner Billy Porter and newcomers Ryan Jamaal Swain and Dyllon Burnside. Charlayne Woodard will be replacing Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany, who was originally cast but left the show after her role was rewritten as a 50-year-old African-American woman.

Here are the transgender actors who will be featured in the new series:

(Photo: Dennis Cahlo)

MJ Rodriguez

Mj Rodriguez is best known for her works in Nurse Jackie (2011), Carrie Diaries (2013), Dear Pauline(2014) New Inernet Series [Blank] My Life (2016) and Netflix show Luke Cage (2016). She is also known for her Musical Theater credit as Angel Dumont Schunard in the Original Off-Broadway Revival of Rent in 2011.

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(Photo: Oxygen)

Dominique Jackson

Jackson is a model and has appeared in fashion magazines such as Vogue España. She has appeared in the Oxygen TV series Strut. Jackson has published her autobiography, The Transsexual from Tobago, and has also been honored as an LGBT+ and human rights activist.

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(Photo: Oak NY)

Indya Moore

Moore has been a model since the age of 15, and has played the role of Dijon in the movie Saturday Church. She recently appeared as a runway model as part of New York Fashion Week.

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(Photo: Twitter)

Hailie Sahar

Sahar is a recording artist and former Miss L.A. Pride and Quees U.S.A. She is best known for her roles as Adriana in Transparent and The Lady of The Night in Mr. Robot.

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(Photo: Missross.com)

Angelica Ross

Ross has starred in the TV show HerStory and has appeared on TNT’s Claws. She has also appeared in Amazon’s Transparent and lends her voice to the animated series Danger & Eggs.